Jacqueline Kerrod / Anthony Braxton

An unsurprising shift, since American composer/saxophonist Anthony Braxton has spent his career participating in a multitude of configurations, this live session is the debut recording of a new duo with South African-born harpist Jacqueline Kerrod playing Braxton compositions. It’s unsurprising as well since the composer is generous in his collaborations, whether with Derek Bailey or his students at Wesleyan University. Here US-based Kerrod, who plays with ensembles ranging from Trio St. Germain to the New York Philharmonic is given as much space as the saxophonist. Unlike other affiliations however which emphasize the strings harmonic qualities and the saxophone as a disrupter, DUO (Bologna) conspicuously advances the harpist’s often rugged and discordant interface alongside the saxophonist’s recurrent restrained and thematic routes.

Built up to and down from the 29-minute “Secondary 1”, the responsive combination starts with hardened reed split tones cushioned by expressive string strokes, leading to horizontal saxophone sequences and harpsichord-like sul tasto plucks from the harpist. Moving at an andante pace among the tones from each of his three saxophones to balance Kerrod’s folk-like strums, Braxton’s whiny reed squeaks and pied-piper-like whistles are later matched in double counterpoint by powerful archery-like pulls or emphatic glissandi from the harpist. Reaching a mid-point climax where top-of-range tremolo string stops threaten to overturn the sound balance, saxophone overblowing turns to mid-range connective slurs that in the penultimate minutes provide parity for connective timbres linking reed squalls with raps against the harp’s wood. Reaching the composition’s final sections these contrasting motifs judder craftily beside one another, with concentrated theme progress interposed with reed trills and bites plus s tremolo section of emphasized string plinks.

Protracted enthusiasm of the Bologna audience is included on the disc, providing another prod besides the notable music that this experiment should be repeated.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Primary 2. Secondary 1 3. Secondary 2 4. Secondary 3 5. Secondary 4 (Encore)

Personnel: Anthony Braxton (alto, soprano, sopranino saxophones) and Jacqueline Kerrod (harp)